Charleston School of Law

What is the history of Charleston School of Law?

Charleston School of Law is a private law school founded in 2003 in Charleston, South Carolina. It welcomed its first class in 2004, creating a local option for students pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) rather than an undergraduate degree.

The school received provisional approval from the American Bar Association (ABA) in 2006 and full approval in 2011. Its history is relatively short compared with many law schools, so applicants evaluating it should give particular attention to recent, rather than historical, evidence: current accreditation information, bar-examination results, employment reports and the terms of their financial aid offers.

What are the faculties and departments at Charleston School of Law?

Charleston School of Law is a specialized professional school, not a university organized into undergraduate colleges and majors. Its central academic program is the J.D., which prepares students for legal practice and other work requiring legal training.

J.D. study combines required subjects, such as contracts, torts, civil procedure, criminal law and legal research and writing, with electives and practical learning. Students comparing law schools should look beyond a course title to its format: a simulation, externship, clinic and classroom seminar can offer substantially different levels of client contact and supervision. The current academic catalog is the appropriate place to confirm course availability, prerequisites and graduation requirements for a particular entering class.

What is the location of Charleston School of Law?

Charleston School of Law is in Charleston, South Carolina, in an urban setting rather than a residential undergraduate campus. Its location gives students access to courts, law offices, government agencies and nonprofit organizations in the Charleston area, although any particular externship or job depends on selection and availability.

Students should plan for travel between classes, employers and housing rather than assume that all activities take place in one building. Charleston International Airport serves the region. For day-to-day planning, the more consequential questions are often where a student can afford to live, how they will commute and whether an evening class or placement requires reliable transportation.

What is the mission and vision of Charleston School of Law?

Charleston School of Law presents legal education and public service as central to its purpose. Its association with the phrase pro bono populi - "for the good of the people" - expresses an emphasis on using legal skills in service of others.

That stated priority is relevant to applicants interested in volunteer work and community-facing legal practice, but a mission statement does not establish how many placements will be available to an individual student. Applicants can assess how the school puts its aims into practice by examining its current pro bono policies, experiential courses and opportunities to work under attorney supervision.